Kenya tightens security during high tourist season

Nairobi — Police at the Coast have heightened security to safeguard visiting holidaymakers during the ongoing high tourist season.

Coast police boss Leo Nyongesa said security has been intensified along hotel establishments, popular white sand beaches and other tourist hotspots to ensure safety of both local and foreign tourists on holidays in the region.

Mr Nyongesa noted that a combination of tourist police, marine police, regular and administration police have been deployed to tourist havens in the South and North Coast.

“We take this opportunity to assure tourists that the region is pretty safe for holidays and they should have fun and enjoy their stay without any problem,” the PPO said.

He added: “Police would patrol all tourist hotspots and in the resort towns to ensure local and foreign visitors have lifetime dream holidays.”

Tourist police, he added, would be charged with securing hotel premises and beaches, while marine police would keep vigil at sea.

Regular and administration police, he said, would maintain security in the towns to ensure safety of Kenyans and foreigners on holiday.

He appealed to hoteliers to work closely with police to ensure safety of all people during this high tourist season.

“In case of any eventuality let players in the tourism sector volunteer information to our officers so that law and order can be maintained. Patrols would be carried out round the clock,” he added.

Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association chairman John Cleave welcomed the security assurances from the government saying safety of tourists was of paramount importance.

Mr Cleave said it was crucial for police to beef security along the beaches since they are always frequented by holidaymakers.

He called on hoteliers to accord law enforcement officers maximum co-operation to ensure success of the security plans.

“We are glad that the government has made security arrangements as tourists come in droves for holidays in the region.

It is commendable that the beaches and the Indian ocean would be patrolled by police,” Mr Cleave said.

“Security is one oof the key components to the thriving of tourism and therefore we shall work hand in hand with security agents to ensure safety of all people,” added the MCTA official.

During the post-election violence last year there was no tourist who was affected by the insecurity situation since police secured the hotel premises.

Tourists that time applauded the government for having maintained tight security in the region.